The European Union and French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday renewed calls for the release of ousted Nigerien leader Mohamed Bazoum. Bazoum, along with his wife Hadiza, has been confined to a wing of the presidential palace since a military coup removed him in July 2023.
His lawyers say he has not stepped outside the building in the two years since his detention began. The EU, in a statement by its chief diplomat Kaja Kallas, welcomed the recent release of several political prisoners but condemned Bazoum’s continued confinement.
“The EU calls again for the release of these people who are being held for political reasons,” Kallas said in a statement marking the anniversary. President Macron echoed the call in a Facebook post, expressing solidarity with Bazoum and his family.
“Today, my thoughts are with Mohamed Bazoum, arbitrarily held for two years after the putsch which drove him from office,” Macron wrote. “I am also thinking of his wife Hadiza and his loved ones. I add my voice to all those calling for his release,” he added.
The junta previously stated it planned to try Bazoum for treason and conspiring against state authority — charges that could carry the death penalty. Although a regime-backed court lifted his presidential immunity last year, no trial has yet begun.
Bazoum, elected in 2021, has not resigned and remains legally untried despite the junta’s threats. The EU reaffirmed its willingness to engage in dialogue with Niger’s authorities, calling for talks rooted in mutual respect and shared interests.